State of a Muslim who dies as a believer


A: Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim mainstream) are of the opinion that whoever dies as a Mu'min, will be given their Record in their right hands, regardless of committing major sins. And whoever dies as a Kafir - may Allah protect us - will be given their Record in their left hand or from behind their back in a way that represents their suffering and reluctance to take what is given to them. This is proven by evidence derived from Qur'an and Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), as they do not mention, as far as taking the Record is concerned, but a true believer, and a Kafir regardless of the type and degree of his Kufr (disbelief). Allah (Exalted be He) says: But whosoever is given his Record behind his back, He will invoke (for his) destruction, These Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) talk about Kafirs whose Kufr takes them out of Islam. Allah (Exalted be He) tells at the end of these Ayahs that such persons do not believe in the Hereafter: Verily, he thought that he would never come back (to Us)! i.e. return to His Lord for reckoning and (Part No. 1; Page No. 727) punishment or reward. There is no contradiction between Allah's saying in a certain Ayah (Qur'anic verse) that the Kafir will be given his Record from behind his back and in another with his left hand, for it is possible to reconcile them by taking the Record of his deeds with his left hand and from behind his back at the same time as mentioned before. So, one of the two Ayahs shows the limb with which the Kafir takes his Record, and the other shows the way with which this Record is taken. As for what you mentioned concerning Ibn Hazm and his saying that believers who committed major sins will be given their Record from behind their back, this is a true quotation, but Ibn Hazm's opinion itself is untrue. The proper opinion in this regard is what has been mentioned, and that is the opinion of Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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